Laser emission of a Nd-doped mixed tellurite and zinc oxide glass

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Chemical composition of corn and sorghum grains cultivated in oxisol with different application methods and doses of zinc

A.P. Puga, R.M. Prado, B. Mattiuz, D.W. Vale, and I.M. Fonseca. 2013. Chemical composition of corn and sorghum grains cultivated in Oxisol according to different application methods and doses of zinc. Cien. Inv. Agr. 40(1):97-108. In general, tropical soils present low concentrations of zinc (Zn), and the deficiency of Zn is recognized as a world nutritional problem for cereal production and human beings. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to assess the effects of different methods of Zn application on the quality of corn and sorghum grains grown in Oxisol. Two experiments were set up in the experimental area of UNESP (campus of Jaboticabal, Brazil). The following nine treatments were applied: three doses of Zn by banded application (seed furrows), three doses of Zn by incorporation into soil (0-20 cm depth), foliar application, seed application, and control (no Zn applied). The treatments were arranged in randomized blocks with four replicates. The contents of Zn, carbohydrates and proteins were determined for corn and sorghum grains. Regardless of the method, Zn application promoted higher contents of this micronutrient in corn and sorghum grains. The banded application method of Zn in soil promoted greater contents of total carbohydrates, starch and protein in both cultures. The incorporation of Zn into the soil method provided higher contents of soluble carbohydrates in both corn and sorghum grains.

Fabrication of Zinc Oxide Nanowires/Polymer Composites by Two-Photon Polymerization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Photoluminescence emission at room temperature in zinc oxide nano-columns

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Antioxidant activity and determination of total phenol contents, carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and zinc in white, yellow and pinkish varieties of manihot esculenta crantz

There are cassava varieties that present compounds as carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and minerals important for human and animal health. The present study evaluated the antioxidant activity of the white, yellow and pinkish varieties of Manihot esculenta, by mean of the DPPH test and by the ferrous ion-chelating activity. Furthermore, the total phenols, carotenoids, beta-carotene, lycopene and zinc contents were also determined. Utilizing the DPPH test it was possible to find that extracts of boiled samples presented higher antioxidant activity (89.53% -pinkish) in comparison to the fresh samples (1.97% -white). For the ferrous ion-chelating test, the highest activity was found for the boiled pinkish variety extract (63.43%) and the lowest was for fresh yellow extract (17.34%) the white sample did not present activity. The highest concentration of total phenols and zinc content was obtained for the boiled pinkish variety extract 136.12 mg EAG/g of extract and 0,811ppm, respectively, in the concentration of 1000 mu g/mL. The pinkish variety presented also higher quantity of pigments, including carotenoid (29.40 mu g/g), beta-carotene (9.14 mu g/100g) and lycopene (68.92%). According to the results obtained in this study it was possible to conclude that the yellow and pinkish varieties of M. esculenta present quantity of phenolic compounds and minerals sufficient to attribute the antioxidant activity and may thus contribute to reduce oxidative damage and be used as nutraceuticals or directly ingested in the diet to maintain good health.

Europium doped zinc sulfide: a correlation between experimental and theoretical calculations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An investigation into the influence of zinc precursor on the microstructural, photoluminescence, and gas-sensing properties of ZnO nanoparticles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Blood and seminal plasma concentrations of selenium, zinc and testosterone and their relationship to sperm quality and testicular biometry in domestic cats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Gas sensor applications of zinc oxide thin film grown by the polymeric precursor method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Coordinative versatility of a Schiff base containing thiophene: Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of zinc(II) and silver(I) complexes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Zinc blende versus wurtzite ZnS nanoparticles: control of the phase and optical properties by tetrabutylammonium hydroxide

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Green tea extract and its major constituent, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, induce epithelial beta-defensin secretion and prevent beta-defensin degradation by Porphyromonas gingivalis

Background and Objective: Antimicrobial peptides, such as beta-defensins, secreted by gingival epithelial cells, are thought to play a major role in preventing periodontal diseases. In the present study, we investigated the ability of green tea polyphenols to induce human beta-defensin (hBD) secretion in gingival epithelial cells and to protect hBDs from proteolytic degradation by Porphyromonas gingivalis.Material and Methods: Gingival epithelial cells were treated with various amounts (25-200 mu g/mL) of green tea extract or epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The secretion of hBD1 and hBD2 was measured using ELISAs, and gene expression was quantified by real-time PCR. The treatments were also carried out in the presence of specific kinase inhibitors to identify the signaling pathways involved in hBD secretion. The ability of green tea extract and EGCG to prevent hBD degradation by proteases of P. gingivalis present in a bacterial culture supernatant was evaluated by ELISA.Results: The secretion of hBD1 and hBD2 was up-regulated, in a dose-dependent manner, following the stimulation of gingival epithelial cells with a green tea extract or EGCG. Expression of the hBD gene in gingival epithelial cells treated with green tea polyphenols was also increased. EGCG-induced secretion of hBD1 and hBD2 appeared to involve extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Lastly, green tea extract and EGCG prevented the degradation of recombinant hBD1 and hBD2 by a culture supernatant of P. gingivalis.Conclusion: Green tea extract and EGCG, through their ability to induce hBD secretion by epithelial cells and to protect hBDs from proteolytic degradation by P. gingivalis, have the potential to strengthen the epithelial antimicrobial barrier. Future clinical studies will indicate whether these polyphenols represent a valuable therapeutic agent for treating/preventing periodontal diseases.

Antifungal Activity of Decyl Gallate against Several Species of Pathogenic Fungi

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Continuous Electrical Current and Zinc Sulphate Administered by Transdermal Iontophoresis Improves Skin Healing in Diabetic Rats Induced by Alloxan: Morphological and Ultrastructural Analysis

Purpose. Evaluated the effects of continuous electrical current (CEC) or zinc administrated by transdermal iontophoresis (Zn+TDI). Methods. 120 male Wistar rats were submitted to an incision surgery at the anterior region of abdomen and distributed into 6 experimental groups with 40 animals: 3 diabetic groups and 3 normal groups, untreated and treated with CEC alone or with Zn+TDI. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups with 10 rats each to be evaluated on the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after surgery. In each period, clinical and laboratory parameters from the animals were analyzed. Results. The analysis by optical and scanning electron microscopy showed a delay in the phases of wound healing in diabetic rats without treatment in all periods of the experiment; breaking strength (BS) was significantly reduced in skin scars of untreated diabetic rats when compared to other groups. In contrast, BS in skin scars of nondiabetic groups and diabetic rats treated with Zn+TDI showed significant increase in those, besides not presenting delayed healing. Conclusion. Electrical stimulation of surgical wounds used alone or in association with zinc by TDI is able to consistently improve the morphological and ultrastructural changes observed in the healing of diabetic animals.

Metabolic profile response to administration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in high-fat-fed mice

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)